Mashco-Piro Indian tribe's survival threatened in Peru

A photo released by the Survival International organization on Jan. 31, 2012 of what they describe as being uncontacted members of a family from the Mashco-Piro tribe somewhere in the southeastern Peruvian jungle. According to Survival International, illegal logging displaces the indians from their homes.

Gabriella Galli / AFP - Getty Images

A photo released by the Survival International organization on Jan. 31 of what they describe as being members of the Mashco-Piro tribe near the Manu National Park in the southeastern Peruvian jungle. According to Survival International, illegal logging displaces the indians from their homes.

AP Reports:

LIMA, Peru — Peruvian authorities say they are struggling to keep outsiders away from a clan of previously isolated Amazon Indians who began appearing on the banks of a jungle river popular with environmental tourists last year.

The behavior of the small group of Mashco-Piro Indians has puzzled scientists, who say it may be related to the encroachment of loggers and by low-flying aircraft from nearby natural gas and oil exploration in the southeastern region of the country.

Clan members have been blamed for two bow-and-arrow attacks on people near the riverbank in Madre de Dios state where officials say the Indians were first seen last May.